Your Fight the Right-Wing Wackos Activist links for May 15, 2008

** Greenpeace USA **
We've said for a long time that Japan's so-called research program is actually commercial whaling in a flimsy disguise. But today, we have the evidence in our hands.

After a four-month long undercover investigation, Greenpeace exposed evidence of widespread embezzlement of whale meat occurring right under the noses of the public officials who run the whaling program.

The best cuts of whale meat, used to make whale bacon, are smuggled into crew cabins, preserved in salt, and then shipped home in boxes marked "cardboard" or "salted stuff" to be sold on the black market. Greenpeace intercepted one such box -- worth up to $3,000.

Greenpeace has evidence that more than a ton of whale meat was snuck from the whaling ship this year alone. One of our sources claims to have heard a crew member boast of building a house on the proceeds from his illegal take.

And, after all of this, we're still supposed to believe that the hunt is all in the name of scientific research to help the whales? Come on! Nobody is buying that line anymore.

Now is the time to rock the boat in Japan. The whaling program has been an embarrassment to Japan's Foreign Affairs department all year. Your letters helped cancel the humpback hunt - and now in the spotlight of this scandal, it's time to cancel the rest.

Take action and send a message to the Prime Minister asking him to end whaling for good! We need your help to put an end to "research" whaling once and for all.
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** Democracy For America **
Republicans can't win elections based on their failed philosophies, so, they've latched onto a new plan: make it as hard and expensive as possible for people to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote.

Since the Supreme Court decided two weeks ago to uphold a draconian law in Indiana that requires citizens show a government issued photo ID to vote, Republican legislatures across the country have started moving fast to pass their own version of this horrible law.

And just like the poll taxes and literacy tests of the past, Republicans hide their real purpose under the banner of preventing possible voter fraud. But these laws are really about stopping senior citizen, low income, and newly registered Americans from voting. Why? Because they typically vote for Democrats.

We must stand together and protect every American's right to vote. SIGN THE PETITION NOW!
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** LiUNA **
The U.S. House/Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee has agreed on a final version of a bill to reauthorize the nation's farm policy. In addition to its critical importance to our nation's farmers, the Farm Bill would provide needed federal loan guarantees to help expand the renewable fuels industry, creating thousands of construction jobs with family-supporting prevailing wage protections.

The full House and Senate will soon vote on the bipartisan conference agreement, which President Bush has threatened to veto.

Fight to build America so America works - tell your Senators and Representatives to pass the final conference agreement on our nation's farm policy with a veto-proof two thirds majority in both Houses of Congress.

Send a message to your members of Congress telling them to expand our country's renewable fuels industry and create thousands of good construction jobs by passing the Farm Bill.
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** Credo Action **
Earlier this year the House of Representatives—thanks in large part to pressure from the grassroots and the netroots—stood strong and refused to pass the Senate version of "FISA reform." That legislation, you'll recall, would have granted retroactive immunity to the Bush administration and the telecom companies that reportedly helped him eavesdrop on Americans without legally-required warrants.

Now, however, our allies on the Hill are telling us that high-ranking members in the House are working behind closed doors with the Bush administration and conservatives in Congress to negotiate a compromise bill -- a bill that will give the administration practically everything they've asked for.

Click here to tell Speaker Pelosi: no compromises on illegal wiretapping.
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